Jai Alai Fronton To Close Soon

February 13, 2002|By MARK PAZNIOKAS; Courant Staff Writer

Jai alai was last played at the Hartford fronton in 1995, but gamblers still wagered $18 million there last year. Jai alai was telecast from Florida, and horses and dogs from dozens of race tracks around the nation.

It all will end next month.

The heirs of L. Stanley ``Buddy'' Berenson, whose name was synonymous with legalized gambling in Hartford until his death in March 2000, are relinquishing their rights to off-track betting in the city so they can sell or redevelop the aging fronton in the North Meadows.

Gamblers, however, probably will not have to go far to place their bets once the fronton closes. Autotote Enterprises of New Haven, which holds the OTB rights in Connecticut, is asking the city council for permission to open a new facility a few exits south on I-91 in the city's South Meadows. The council will formally receive the application tonight and refer it to committee for study.

If the council approves the application early next month, as expected, a new Race View center on Brainard Road will open April 1, the day after the old fronton closes its doors forever. It will be a smaller version of teletracks in New Haven and Windsor Locks.

``We'll have thoroughbred racing, dog racing and jai alai simulcasting,'' said John Ponzio, president of Autotote Enterprises.

Autotote bought the state's off-track betting system in 1993, but operators of the Plainfield dog track and the jai alai frontons at Bridgeport and Hartford retained the rights to OTB in their cities. With the closing of the Hartford fronton, the OTB rights in Hartford revert to Autotote.

Indian gaming has dramatically changed the gambling industry in Connecticut, driving jai alai out of the state. But Ponzio said OTB has flourished at a dozen facilities.

``In 1993, when Autotote bought the system, the state did $135 million'' in wagers, Ponzio said. ``Last year, we did $225 million. It's growing and continues to grow.''

Autotote pays 1.9 percent of its handle to the state and 1.6 percent to the host municipality. In Hartford, a betting handle of $18 million means a payment of $288,000 to the city. In its heyday, jai alai generated more than $1 million annually for the city.

With a newer facility, business is expected to improve, Ponzio said. Autotote has leased a portion of 107-121 Brainard Rd., which most recently housed back-office operations for an insurance company.

Richard Berenson, who has represented his family since the death of his father, could not be reached for comment about the fate of the old fronton, which has hosted the occasional concert and also served as a welfare-check distribution center in recent years.

Deputy Mayor Veronica Airey-Wilson said, ``My understanding is that the family is looking to close it down. They are looking for a developer and may have to level the building to get interest going.''

Harry Freeman of the Hartford Economic Development Commission said he is told an announcement about the future of the site is coming shortly.